The Ministry of Environment and Tourism in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the (Global Environment Facility) has developed the Strengthening the Protected Area Network Project, known as SPAN. The project aims for sustainable management of renewable natural resources in the Etosha National Park, 3 parks in the Caprivi (Bwabwata, Mudumo and Mamili) and the Ai Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park to protect biodiversity while contributing to economic and social development. The financing agreement of US$8.2 U$ million (approx. N$50 million) was signed last Friday in Windhoek. The Government also successfully secured additional co-financing from to the tune of about N$ 40 million from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau via the GTZ, UNDP, USAID and international conservation organizations such as Conservation International (CI).

"Through the SPAN Project, the ministry is determined to significantly improve national park management," says Malan Lindeque, the Permanent Secretary of the MET. "Our ultimate goal is both for biodiversity conservation and for unlocking the economic potential of national parks for development and poverty alleviation."

Photo: Happy about the multi-million dollar support agreement signed with the UN are from left Dr Malan Lindeque, permanent secretary of the environment and tourism ministry, his counterpart Mocks Shivute of the National Planning Commission and Ben Ngheno, country representative of UNDP. Photo: Brigitte Weidlich